05.07.08
Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, Novell, Office Suites, Fork, OpenOffice, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 11:03 pm by Roy Schestowitz
Stuck in 2007?
As stressed many times before, IANAL, but based on the consensus of opinions in Groklaw, the GPLv3 is bound to bite companies that sold out to Microsoft in the rear. Several of these companies knew very well what they were getting into, or maybe they just weren’t concerned. Here is a lovely old quote from the CEO of Xandros: (highlighted in red)
Under the third version of the General Public License, expected to be published in final form this month by the Free Software Foundation, all such deals that were not inked by March 28 are forbidden. As a result, it would appear that Xandros will not be allowed to distribute open source code licensed under GPLv3 because of its relationship with Microsoft. Typaldos said he’s not concerned. “If you are a businessperson, you can’t worry about every eventuality.“
Priceless. To quote another old article which was discussing Microsoft’s scam at the time:
Then Microsoft offers the carrot of legal absolution. “Come with us” they say “We will protect you and your customers from our lawsharks” they promise. The poor scared sods believe them and sign a piece of paper that they think will protect themselves from the “Big Brother”. This of course makes Microsoft very happy and fits right in with their divide and conqueror plans.
Sam Varghese was a little more blunt when he advised Andy Typaldos to start selling potatoes rather than selling out. In any event, what does the licence upgrade of OpenOffice.org mean to he likes of Xandros?
It is a good time to raise this question because OpenOffice 3.0, which adopted the third version of the GNU GPL, has just been released as public beta. You can find some more details here.
The OpenOffice.org Community is pleased to announce that the public beta release of OpenOffice.org 3.0 is now available. This beta release is made available to allow a broad user base to test and evaluate the next major version of OpenOffice.org, but is not recommended for production use at this stage.
The LGPLv3, especially in the context of Novell’s OpenOffice.org controversial ‘fork’ for SUSE Ballnux, was discussed before in [1, 2, 3]. Can Novell carry on doing what it does? If so, at what cost? █
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04.26.08
Posted in GNU/Linux, Opensuse, Google, Samsung, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 1:40 am by Roy Schestowitz
The past week has been a pleasant one because there were many positive announcements for GNU/Linux, despite the Intel- and Microsoft-imposed OLPC disaster, which was rather predictable anyway (to those tracking the inhumane and systematic abuses).
Looking at OpenSUSE over the past week, here is what we have. From the company which planned to install Ubuntu, then dropped it for Foresight on KPC, now comes OpenSUSE.
PERSONAL computers with Linux pre-installed have been springing up all over the place in recent months. Now Shuttle, the Taiwanese company famous for making small but perfectly formed PCs, have gotten in on the act. I’ve been spending some time in the company of their LinuXPC SD3002Q, which is sold with openSUSE 10.3 Linux pre-installed.
Moving on to the development builds, here comes the announcement of beta 1 of OpenSUSE. The announcement is about a week old by now, but we post these roundups periodically.
KDE 4 and KDE 3.5: The openSUSE 11.0 beta 1 includes KDE 4.0.3, which includes a number of new features, fixes, and optimizations. See the KDE4 page for more info on the KDE4 branch. To help test, see the wiki for info on reporting bugs in KDE. Not quite ready to move to KDE4? No worries, the beta includes an installation option for KDE 3.5 in addition to KDE4.
There is a very nice new post from Zonker, who discusses ways of giving equal and fair chances to GNOME and the two KDEs (KDE4 might not satisfy everyone’s needs at this early stage).
Of course, it really matters very little what order the desktop choices are ordered in — the majority of users are going to pick the desktop that they’re familiar with, and it won’t matter if that choice is placed first, second, or third. The users who have no idea which desktop is which are probably going to pick the desktop that has the most appealing (for them) description — not the desktop that happens to be placed first.
Screenshots extracted from the latest beta can be found at GNUMAN.COM. Beineri is the one posting a summary of the news this week
In this week’s issue:
* OpenOffice_org 2.4 available
* 11.0 feature by feature: All you ever wanted to know!
[…]
That’s about all from OpenSUSE this week, other than the breakdown of projects sponsored by Google’s Summer of Code (SoC).
Linspire
‘CNR factory’, sometimes known as Debian derivative Ubuntu derivative Linspire, has had another CNR press release published. This time it’s Google Earth, which is free (gratis) and typically very trivial to install.
Linspire, Inc., developer of CNR.com, the free and easy to use one-click digital software delivery service for desktop Linux software, today announced the immediate availability of Google Earth for Freespire 2.0, Linspire 6.0, Ubuntu 7.04 & 7.10 (32 bit) desktop Linux users.
Just like last week, the only ones to pay attention are at DesktopLinux.com (eWeek).
Ubuntu, Linspire, and Freespire users can now install “Google Earth” with a single click, says Linspire. The desktop Linux distributor has added support for the free mapping application to its CNR (”click-n-run”) installer, a user-friendly tool currently beta-testing for a wide variety of desktop Linux distributions.
Nothing from Xandros recently, other than some articles about Asustek’s derivative of Xandros. Turbolinux got mentioned a few times in articles about Novell in China. Samsung has meanwhile posted good results despite the corruptions and the departure of the CEO. █
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04.15.08
Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, Novell, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 1:12 am by Roy Schestowitz
[Headline was corrected from: “Kevin Carmony Admits Microsoft Paid Linspire Millions”]
The best extortion money can buy
A few days ago we mentioned the beans-spilling from Kevin Carmony, but it’s an ongoing discussion and here is some of the latest.
We have known this for a while, but verifiable sums were needed. It was stated in various high-profile Web sites, but admission is always more credible. Linspire’s former CEO has just posted a very telling comment. We highlight a response from FSDaily which quotes a followup (comment) from Kevin Carmony:
[Kevin Carmony:] “Many disagreed with the MS partnership, but it brought us millions in new sources of revenue, all without having any of the negative effects on the desktop Linux space that some predicted the MS/Linux deals would. I reduced our losses by millions in my first year as CEO, and made millions in profits my second year.”
[Comment:] He made millions in profit in the short term, by destroying a GNU/Linux company’s reputation. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to sell out to Microsoft. Any GNU/Linux distro which has a significant community could pull millions or more by selling out to Microsoft.
One has to wonder just how much was paid. We quoted some estimates before, but none could be confirmed. Additionally, how much was paid when it comes to Xandros and TurboLinux? And how much do they pay Microsoft in return, over time? Novell was paid over $300,000,000. In return, it gives a variety of things including OOXML support and software patent royalties, based on sales volume. It’s despicable. █
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03.29.08
Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 2:26 am by Roy Schestowitz
There are 4 companies in total, at least among GNU/Linux desktop vendors, which sold out to Microsoft. Turbolinux hardly makes it into the English-speaking news channels while Linspire and Xandros are orders of magnitude smaller than Novell. But here is what we know about them based on the past week’s news.
Linspire
Linspire is rarely reviewed, but here is Steve York taking Freespire for test drive.
Conclusions
I genuinely cannot fault Freespire and that’s hard for an overly critical person like me to admit. The only complaint I have is the slightly cluttered start-bar but that’s customisable - functionality wise the whole system just works. The single most annoying thing about Freespire is that I’ve only just stumbled upon it’s greatness. If someone dresses up the menus and the folder icons then this has the potential to be the best release in the world - and I genuinely believe that.
Here is Matt Harley’s review of CNR (Beta).
You Missed One. As I read the press release, I felt like Linspire started off strong in explaining its technology and how CNR went from closed to open source, but then they lost me in the end. Where is the Ubuntu support for proprietary codecs ? Despite Linux users opting to use free and open alternatives to restricted codecs, the reality is that most newcomers to Ubuntu are looking for proprietary codecs in such a way so as not to have to wonder about the perceived legalities in their country.
[…]
Hopefully, Linspire will continue to focus on CNR and work towards improving it even further than it already has. We wish them the best of luck and except to see exciting developments from them going forward.
Xandros
The low-profile Andreas Typaldos will make an appearance in public pretty shortly. He is the head of Xandros.
Xandros, Inc., the leading provider of intuitive Linux solutions and mixed-environment management tools, is scheduled to present at the Cambria Capital Investor Meeting in Salt Lake City…
Eee PC
We continue to assume that ASUS pays Microsoft not even a penny for what is clearly just a derivative of Xandros. The only uncertainty that remains and boggles the mind is the extent to which Eee PC helps Xandros at a marketing or recognition level. Here, for instance, is an SDK for the Eee PC, which credits Xandros.
According to the user guide (PDF link), the SDK includes the following components:
* Xandros Desktop Open Circulation Version 4.5
* QT
* Eclipse
* QT plugin for Eclipse
* Debian packaging wizard developed by Xandros
The Eee PC will soon have multi-touch support, which X Server facilitates.
The feature will require ASUS’ variant on Xandros Linux and will only support pinching in Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, ASUS’ Photomanager tool, and OpenOffice documents. As with the Mac, scrolling is universal.
Sales are still going well despite supply shortages. The proportion of Linux PCs that are sold in this way is important in establishing a critical mass, although the tipping point is already behind us.
Asus has claimed that it’s only able to sell one Eee PC for around every three people that want one.
It seems safe to say that low-cost laptops will reshape the market. They blur the gap between computers and devices, and that’s just fine. █
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03.27.08
Posted in Microsoft, Windows, GNU/Linux, Novell, OpenDocument, Interoperability, OpenOffice, xandros, Turbolinux at 3:23 am by Roy Schestowitz
A month ago we showed some video demos of the new OpenOffice.org. This included some OpenGL-accelerated eye candy, but one of the better features is probably the inclusion of a GPLv3 variant [1, 2]. Novell is likely to take its own separate route as a result.
In any event, expect an announcement of the new release (version 2.4) later today.
OpenOffice will see a new release today: version 2.4.
There are already some previews of version 3.0 and encouraging signs of great adoption. Over at commandline.org.uk, there is actually a proposal for blending in of ODF with the Linux Standard Base. It’s clear that GNU/Linux adoption is dependent on open standards, including that of documents.
Include ODF support in the Linux Standard Base?
[…]
Enter the Linux Standard Base
The Linux Standard Base Desktop Specification provides a standard desktop for developers to target when writing desktop applications.
The points raised there are valid, but it probably remains to be understood just how Linux-specific (or specific to any platform for that matter) ODF is. Everything should be universal, but Novell, Linspire, Xandros and Turbolinux won’t make things easy.
It has become increasingly obvious that adoption of Free software and the Free Desktop depends on the success and the network effect ODF can capitalise on. That’s why Microsoft is in a great rush. Microsoft know this, which is why its aggressive (even unethical or illegal) fight for OOXML is not just a fight for Office, but a fight for the relevance of its entire proprietary franchise, including Windows. That’s just how important ODF is. █
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03.06.08
Posted in Red Hat, FSF, Law, Microsoft, Novell, Patents, GPL, SUN, OpenOffice, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 11:02 pm by Roy Schestowitz
It is worth congratulating Sun for upgrading the licence of OpenOffice.org to version 3 of the GNU LGPL. This ought to affect many GNU/Linux distributions that comes with OpenOffice.org preinstalled. Remember Sun’s and Red Hat’s response to Microsoft’s accusative claims that OpenOffice.org and GNU/Linux infringe on its patents.
Further on this news from Simon Phipps:
You may recall that a team from Sun devoted a great deal of time to the process of drafting the GPLv3. Our engagement was not just the monitoring exercise that I suspect it was for many of the corporate participants. It was always my hope that Sun would use the license for significant software projects.
Lawyers might also be able to already tell what this means to Linspire, Turbolinux, Xandros and Novell, all of whom are Microsoft sellouts, to whom the GPLv3 is a punisher. It’s complicated, but it resolves issues.
Meanwhile, over at Red Hat, the legal team gets a reinforcement. With a new appointment it now appears likely that Red Hat will adopt GPLv3 more than before.
With Fontana’s extensive experience with GPLv3, his hiring might signal a desire by Red Hat to adopt GPLv3 broadly.
Do remember that the GPLv3’s relevance in this case is to do with patents and not with Tivoization or any of the other modifications that some consider “controversial”.
In the following new special issue of CTLR, Perens and Red Hat make an appearance. Red Hat addresses the issue of software patents.
* “Innovation goes public”, by Bruce Perens, a powerful speaker, a naturally creative thinker and a man who is so synonymous with the open source movement that he has all but trade marked it;
[…]
* “Commercial licensing models” by Jan Wildeboer (Solution Architect at Red Hat and a well known enemy of software patents);
Here is a lecture about the GPLv3. █
Patent strategy gradually goes sour
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02.21.08
Posted in Microsoft, Novell, Open XML, ISO, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 11:18 pm by Roy Schestowitz
Moments ago the following good analysis was published and it nicely complements and overlaps our own.
Microsoft’s latest move on “interoperability” is an indication that it feels it has reached the stage of “extend” in the famous “embrace, extend and extinguish” strategy for which the company is well known. And the timing could not be better.
The embrace of four Linux resellers in 2006 and 2007 has been well documented and needs no elaboration - eager for handouts and keen to stand in line like good citizens, Novell, Xandros, Turbo Linux and Linpsire signed up with the team in Redmond.
It’s curious that an announcement titled “Microsoft Executives to Make Significant Company Announcement” comes a few days before national standards bodies gather in Geneva to begin a meeting that will culminate with a vote on whether Microsoft Office Open XML is accepted as an ISO standard or not.
Call me cynical but I can’t help noticing that this move also comes on the heels of a European Union announcement that it would investigate Microsoft’s actions in its bid to get OOXML adopted as an ISO standard.
The detail of the announcement will emerge later, much later, as there are thousands of pages which one must digest. Significantly, there is no time for those who are attending the Geneva meeting to understand this announcement - and that is by design.
Update: check out Bob Sutor’s excellent collection of links and quotes. Among them:
“The European Commission has expressed doubt regarding Microsoft’s announcement Thursday claiming a move toward greater interoperability.”
[…]
“Microsoft made major concessions Thursday that should make it easier for open-source software to dovetail with or even replace Microsoft products, but a major caveat means the company’s legal threats remain alive and well.”
[…]
“The European Committee For Interoperable Systems said it will take a wait and see approach in determining whether the changes will alleviate its concerns.”
[…]
What the heck exactly is “non-commercial” use of open source? Hobbyists?
[…]
“I expect that there it is no coincidence that this announcement comes just two business days (and only one, for most of the world) before the Ballot Resolution Meeting convenes in Geneva next Monday.”
[…]
“Microsoft is really pulling out all the stops to make sure OOXML gets the ISO standards nod. Losing lucrative government contracts here and abroad that require “open” standards would be no financial joke for the company.”b
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02.19.08
Posted in Formats, Red Hat, Microsoft, Novell, Deception, Office Suites, Patents, Ubuntu, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 8:17 am by Roy Schestowitz
An anonymous reader has contributed his insights for us to publish in the spirit of helping the fight against FUD.
So, what do we have here? A new maneouver of the monopoly: Now they publish the specifications of legacy (97,2000) Microsoft Office documents (they arrive 10 years late). Now that thanks to ODF we are on the verge of not needing them anymore. Ever.
“Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.” Fear the Greeks even if they bear gifts. This is absolutely a “Trojan horse” (poison pill) for Free/Libre Software. Let me explain:
There is an absolutely critical question for Free/Libre Software (and, by the way, if you must pay/negotiate patent racket eer… royalties as Novell has agreed to do, it cannot be deemed Free/Libre anymore)
Are these formats freely implementable in projects licensed under the GPLv3 (and notice that version 3 here acquires a crucial importance)? Are they available absolutely royalty-free and absolutely software patents-free? If that is not the case this is plain yet-another-trap-from-Microsoft(tm).
Moreover the specs are published at a critical moment when Microsoft desperately needs to see endorsed by ISO its Frankenstein-Format MSOOXML (which includes undocumented binary blobs, at least undocumented until now, -and it remains to be seen if the documentation just published is useful with them at all-) after they have corrupted the whole standarization process by playing every little dirty trick in the book to rig the Technical Committees in order to see their format approved.
***Why NOW?, I am sure things would have been a lot EASIER for them should they have published the specs from the beginning… ah, but then the very format’s “Raison d’etre”, i.e. LEGACY COMPATIBILITY MOTIVATION THEY JUSTIFIED FOR THE EXISTENCE A SECOND UNNECESSARY ISO STANDARD FOR DOCUMENT FORMATS, AN “ISOED”-MSOOXML CONFLICTING WITH THE EXISTING ODF-IETF/ISO26300 WOULD NOT BE VALID ANYMORE: IN FACT NOW THAT THEY HAVE PUBLISHED THE LEGACY SPECS IT IS NOT VALID ANYMORE***
“They desperately need to stop the adoption of ISO26300-ODF by governments and public institutions…”They desperately need to stop the adoption of ISO26300-ODF by governments and public institutions, which, by the way, are probably the biggest captive customers and Cash-Cows of Microsoft (there are already some precedents that should have made them scared to death, like in Massachusetts)
They have said that they “cannot guarantee” legal safety if you use their OSP-published products in a GPL Free/Libre project [ODF], and that they leave the question to be asked “to your lawyers”, what a superb exercise of cynicism! (OSP=”Open Specification Promise”, notice this is a “promise” -and, as such, coming from Microsoft, bound to be broken-, OSP is not a licence nor a contract, and it is not legally binding whatsoever)
What they have made clear is that, even if ISO endorses their MSOOXML format, they are not committed with it in future versions (we will see EEE at play again). The documentation of this attempt-at-a-standard already comprises 6000+ pages of specifications plus more that 2000 extra pages of errors and suggested amendments.
Be very aware, that when talking about Microsoft you always have to look for “side effects” and “collateral damages”.
In this case I can see a two-pronged attack to Open Standards and Free/Libre Software. For the first, as I have explained, they are trying to discourage ODF adoption as much as they can. For the second, think about the consequences of injecting their OSP’ed products -not-quite-GPL-compatible-and-of-course-GPLv3-incompatible- (since you cannot pass the rights to the recipients of the software -and that’s why they love the BSD-like licenses while they shun the GPL-like licences), I say, injecting them in some Gnu/Linux distro: Novell (Xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux) is a first candidate, whereas for Red Hat, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Debian, Slackware and others… have you paid our patent protection racket yet? No? Well, see you in court.
There is a premise with this company (Microsoft) and it is that any of their products -even those provided cost-free- are devised to try to tie you to some other of their products.
To finish with, the published specs don’t include either Access, Visio or Outlook. And ironically, they are published in .PDF and .XPS (“metro”) formats (so beware, Adobe!)
Also see: http://fsfeurope.org/documents/msooxml-idiosyncrasies
This illustrates the impossibility of obtaining interoperability with real implementations of MSOOXML by Microsoft even after (and if) endorsed by ISO. █
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« Previous entries ·
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.